佚名
一位年轻有为的总裁，驾驶他崭新的Jaguar车快速经过住宅区。在路边玩耍的孩子随时都可能跑到路中央，他必须十分小心，感觉孩子要跑出来时，就放慢车速。
就在这时，一个孩子突然出现在路旁，将一块砖头扔过来砸在他的车门上，他愤怒地急踩刹车，并将车后退到丢出砖头的地方。
他从车上跳下来，抓起那个小孩，将他按在车门上嚷道：“刚才是怎么回事？你是谁？你知道自己刚刚做了什么吗？”他气愤地继续吼着：“你知道你得赔多少钱才能修好这辆新车吗？你为什么要这样做呢？”
“很对不起，先生，我不知道我还能怎么做。”小孩乞求道。
他继续说：“我哥哥从轮椅上摔了下来，我抱不动他。”
男孩哭着问总裁：“您愿意帮我把哥哥抬到轮椅上去吗？他受伤了。他太重我抱不动。”
这些话深深地打动了年轻的总裁，他把那个受伤的哥哥抱回轮椅上。并拿出手帕为他擦拭伤口，看一下伤口是否有什么大问题。
“谢谢您，先生，上帝保佑您。”小男孩感激地说。总裁望着男孩推着哥哥回家了。
对于他的Jaguar来说，返回的路似乎变得极为漫长。他没有修车门，让保留在车上的凹痕时刻提醒自己：不要在生活的道路上走得过于匆忙，那样别人只好向你扔砖头，引起你的注意。
当生命想与你的心灵窃窃私语，有时，你会没有时间去聆听……那么砖头就会落到你的头上，提醒你注意！
有两种选择摆在你面前：聆听心灵的声音或者等待砖头降临！
有时你会忽略深爱的人，那是因为你在生命的道路上行进太快，而无暇考虑是否真的爱他们？“TheBrick”inLife
Anonymous
A+young+and+successful+eutive+was+traveling+down+a+neighborhood+street,+going+a+bit+too+fast+in+his+new+Jaguar.+He+was+watching+for+kids+darting+out+from+between+parked+cars+and+slowed+down+when+he+thought+he+saw+something.
As+his+car+passed,+one+child+appeared,+and+a+brick+smashed+into+the+Jag’s+side+door.+He+slammed+on+the+brakes+and+spun+the+Jag+back+to+the+spot+from+where+the+brick+had+been+thrown.
He+jumped+out+of+the+car,+grabbed+that+kid+and+pushed+him+up+against+a+parked+car,+shouting,+“What+was+that+all+about+and+who+are+you？+Just+what+the+heck+are+you+doing？”+Building+up+a+head+of+steam,+he+went+on+“That’s+a+new+car+and+that+brick+you+threw+is+gonna+cost+a+lot+of+money.+Why+did+you+do+it？”
“Please,+mister,+please,+I’m+sorry.+I+didn’t+know+what+else+to+do！”+pleaded+the+youngster.
“It’s+my+brother,+”+he+said.+“He+rolled+off+the+curb+and+fell+out+of+his+wheelchair+and+I+can’t+lift+him+up.
Sobbing,+the+boy+asked+the+eutive,+“Would+you+please+help+me+get+him+back+into+his+wheelchair？+He’s+hurt+and+he’s+too+heavy+for+me.”
Moved+beyond+words,+the+driver+tried+to+swallow+the+rapidly+swelling+lump+in+his+throat.+He+lifted+the+young+man+back+into+the+wheelchair+and+took+out+his+handkerchief+and+wiped+the+scrapes+and+cuts,+checking+to+see+that+everything+was+going+to+be+okay.
“Thank+you,+sir.+And+God+bless+you,”+the+grateful+child+said+to+him.+The+man+then+watched+the+little+boy+push+his+brother+to+the+sidewalk+toward+their+home.
It+was+a+long+walk+backs+to+his+Jaguar...+a+long,+slow+walk.+He+never+did+repair+the+side+door.+He+kept+the+dent+to+remind+him+not+to+go+through+life+so+fast+that+someone+has+to+throw+a+brick+at+you+to+get+your+attention.
Life+whispers+in+your+soul+and+speaks+to+your+heart.+Sometimes,+when+you+don’t+have+the+time+to+listen，+life+throws+a+brick+at+your+head.ъΙＱǐkＵ.йＥτ
It’s+your+choice:+listen+to+the+whispers+of+your+soul+or+wait+for+the+brick！
Do+you+sometimes+ignore+loved+ones+because+your+life+is+too+fast+and+busy+leaving+them+to+wonder+whether+you+really+love+them？
另一种快乐
佚名
天正下着毛毛雨，我和姐姐吉尔从卫理公会教堂跑出来，一心只想快点回家，玩圣诞老人送给我们和小妹莎伦的玩具礼物。灰狗长途汽车会在教堂对面的泛美加油站停靠。因为那天是圣诞节，加油站没营业，但我却发现有一家人站在紧闭的加油站门外。他们挤在狭窄的檐篷下，尽量避免被雨淋湿。我的脑海中忽然闪现出一个问题：他们为什么要站在那儿呢？但在追赶吉尔时，这个疑问很快便被抛至脑后了。
其实到家后根本没时间让我们尽情摆弄礼物，因为马上要去爷爷奶奶家共进一年一度的圣诞大餐。我们的车路经刚才那个街区时，我看到那家人仍站在紧闭的加油站门外。
爸爸的车速很慢，越接近去爷爷奶奶家的岔路口，车子就越慢。突然，爸爸在公路中间，来了个180度大转弯，原路返回，他说：“我实在不忍心！”
“什么？”妈妈问他。
“那几个站在泛美加油站门外淋雨的人，他们还带着小孩呢。今天是圣诞节，我怎么能忍心呢。”
爸爸把车停在了加油站旁边，我看见那一家共有五口人：父母和三个孩子——两个女孩，一个小男孩。
爸爸把车窗摇了下来，对他们说:“圣诞快乐！”
“你好!”那个男人答道。他个子高高的，把腰稍微弯下来往我们车里看。
我和吉尔、莎伦盯着那几个小孩看，他们也看着我们。
“你们是在等车吗？”爸爸问。
男人说是，他们准备去伯明翰，他有个哥哥在那边，而且希望能在那找份工作。
“汽车至少得几个小时后才能来，站在这等你们都会淋湿的。往前几英里是温邦车站，那儿有个遮棚，可以避雨，还有板凳坐。”爸爸说，“要不你们上车，我把你们捎到那儿吧。”
男人想了想，然后示意家人过来。他们钻进车里，除了身上穿的衣服，没有任何行李。
等他们坐好了，爸爸回过头来问那几个孩子，圣诞老人有没有找到他们。三张阴郁的脸无声地告诉了他答案。
“不会吧，”爸爸边说边眨眼暗示妈妈，“早上我遇到圣诞老人了，他说找不到你们，就把要给你们的礼物先寄存在我们家了。现在咱们就去拿吧，一会儿我再把你们送到车站去。”
三个孩子顿时神采飞扬，在座位上欢呼雀跃起来。
到了我家，一下车，那三个孩子进了大门就直奔圣诞树下的礼物。其中一个小女孩看到了吉尔的洋娃娃，立刻把它抱在怀里。我记得那小男孩把莎伦的小球抓去了，而另外一个女孩则把我的一件礼物挑走了。这是很久以前的事了，至今我仍记忆犹新，因为那个圣诞节，我和我的姐妹们感受到了使别人快乐的愉悦。
妈妈看到他们家老二穿着短袖的裙子，便把吉尔唯一的毛衣送给了她。
爸爸邀请他们一起去爷爷奶奶家吃圣诞大餐。不论怎么劝说，他们还是坚持谢绝了我们的好意。
回到车上，返回温邦的路上爸爸问那个男人是否有买车票的钱。
他说他哥哥把车票寄来了。
爸爸把口袋里仅有的两美元掏了出来，那是我们熬到下次发工资前的所有钱，他却把它塞给了那个男人。男人想把钱推回来，但爸爸坚持要他收下。“等你们到伯明翰时已经很晚了，路上孩子们会饿的。收下吧，我以前也曾一贫如洗，我理解，让家人挨饿的滋味很难受。”
把他们送到温邦的车站后，我们便离开了。我透过车窗望了他们好久，看着那个小女孩抱着她的新洋娃娃。
■心灵小语
通往快乐的道路有很多条，我们偶尔也要改变一下方向，选择另一条通往快乐的路。文中并不富裕的一家人，慷慨地把自己的生活费送给了更需要它的人。然而，他们并没有因此而感到失落，而是为了能够帮到别人而感到更加幸福。
Christmas+Morning
+
Anonymous
A+light+drizzle+was+falling+as+my+sister+Jill+and+I+ran+out+of+the+Methodist+Church,+eager+to+get+home+and+play+with+the+presents+that+Santa+had+left+for+us+and+our+baby+sister+Sharon.+Across+the+street+from+the+church+was+a+Pan+American+gas+station+where+the+Greyhound+bus+stopped.+It+was+closed+for+Christmas,+but+I+noticed+a+family+standing+outside+the+locked+door,+huddled+under+the+narrow+overhang+in+an+attempt+to+keep+dry.+I+wondered+briefly+why+they+were+there+but+then+forgot+about+them+as+I+raced+to+keep+up+with+Jill.+
Once+we+got+home,+there+was+barely+time+to+enjoy+our+presents.+We+had+to+go+off+to+our+grandparents’+house+for+our+annual+Christmas+dinner.+As+we+drove+down+the+highway+through+town,+I+noticed+that+the+family+was+still+there,+standing+outside+the+closed+gas+station.+
My+father+was+driving+very+slowly+down+the+highway.+The+closer+we+got+to+the+turnoff+for+my+grandparents’+house,+the+slower+the+car+went.+Suddenly,+my+father+Uturned+in+the+middle+of+the+road+and+said,+“I+can’t+stand+it！”
“What？”+asked+my+mother.+
“It’s+those+people+back+there+at+the+Pan+Am,+standing+in+the+rain.+They’ve+got+children.+It’s+Christmas.+I+can’t+stand+it.”+
When+my+father+pulled+into+the+service+station,+I+saw+that+there+were+five+of+them:+the+parents+and+three+children—two+girls+and+a+small+boy.+
My+father+rolled+down+his+window.+“Merry+Christmas,”+he+said.+
“Howdy,”+the+man+replied.+He+was+very+tall+and+had+to+stoop+slightly+to+peer+into+the+car.+
Jill,+Sharon,+and+I+stared+at+the+children,+and+they+stared+back+at+us.+
“You+waiting+on+the+bus？”+my+father+asked.
The+man+said+that+they+were.+They+were+going+to+Birmingham,+where+he+had+a+brother+and+prospects+of+a+job.+
“Well,+that+bus+isn’t+going+to+come+along+for+several+hours,+and+you’re+getting+wet+standing+here.+Winborn’s+just+a+couple+miles+up+the+road.+They’ve+got+a+shed+with+a+cover+there,+and+some+benches,”+my+father+said.+“Why+don’t+you+all+get+in+the+car+and+I’ll+run+you+up+there.”+
The+man+thought+about+it+for+a+moment,+and+then+he+beckoned+to+his+family.+They+climbed+into+the+car.+They+had+no+luggage,+only+the+clothes+they+were+wearing.+
Once+they+settled+in,+my+father+looked+back+over+his+shoulder+and+asked+the+children+if+Santa+had+found+them+yet.+Three+glum+faces+mutely+gave+him+their+answers.+
“Well,+I+didn’t+think+so,”+my+father+said,+winking+at+my+mother,+“because+when+I+saw+Santa+this+morning,+he+told+me+that+he+was+having+trouble+finding+you+all,+and+he+asked+me+if+he+could+leave+your+toys+at+my+house.+We’ll+just+go+get+them+before+I+take+you+to+the+bus+stop.”
All+at+once,+the+three+children’s+faces+lit+up,+and+they+began+to+bounce+around+in+the+back+seat,+laughing+and+chattering.+
When+we+got+out+of+the+car+at+our+house,+the+three+children+ran+through+the+front+door+and+straight+to+the+toys+that+were+spread+out+under+our+Christmas+tree.+One+of+the+girls+spied+Jill’s+doll+and+immediately+hugged+it+to+her+breast.+I+remember+that+the+little+boy+grabbed+Sharon’s+ball.+And+the+other+girl+picked+up+something+of+mine.+All+this+happened+a+long+time+ago,+but+the+memory+of+it+remains+clear.+That+was+the+Christmas+when+my+sisters+and+I+learned+the+joy+of+making+others+happy.
My+mother+noticed+that+the+middle+child+was+wearing+a+shortsleeved+dress,+so+she+gave+the+girl+Jill’s+only+sweater+to+wear.+
My+father+invited+them+to+join+us+at+our+grandparents’+for+Christmas+dinner,+but+the+parents+refused.+Even+when+we+all+tried+to+talk+them+into+coming,+they+were+firm+in+their+decision.+
Back+in+the+car,+on+the+way+to+Winborn,+my+father+asked+the+man+if+he+had+money+for+bus+fare.+
His+brother+had+sent+tickets,+the+man+said.+
My+father+reached+into+his+pocket+and+pulled+out+two+dollars,+which+was+all+he+had+left+until+his+next+payday.+He+pressed+the+money+into+the+man’s+hand.+The+man+tried+to+give+it+back,+but+my+father+insisted.+“It’ll+be+late+when+you+get+to+Birmingham,+and+these+children+will+be+hungry+before+then.+Take+it.+I’ve+been+broke+before,+and+I+know+what+it’s+like+when+you+can’t+feed+your+family.”
We+left+them+there+at+the+bus+stop+in+Winborn.+As+we+drove+away,+I+watched+out+the+window+as+long+as+I+could,+looking+back+at+the+little+girl+hugging+her+new+doll.
吉莱斯皮先生的天使
安杰拉•斯特吉尔
我上七年级的时候，在镇上的一家当地医院做义工。夏天，我自愿每周工作30到40个小时。通常，我都跟吉莱斯皮先生在一起。从来都没人探望过他，也没人关心过他的情况。大多时候，我总是握着他的手，跟他说话，帮他做一切需要做的事。他成了我一个亲近的朋友，即使他的反应也仅仅是偶尔捏一下我的手。他一直处于昏迷状态。
我和父母去度假，离开了一个星期，我回来时，吉莱斯皮先生不见了。我没有勇气去问护士他的去向，我害怕他们也许会告诉我，他已经去世了，所以许多问题都没问。我继续利用八年级的时间自愿待在这里。
多年以后，我上高三时，在一个加油站注意到了一张似曾相识的面容。当我认出他时，眼中充满了泪水。他还活着！我鼓起勇气问他是不是叫吉莱斯皮先生，是否昏迷过五年。他的脸上流露出不确定的表情，回答了是。我解释我是怎么认识他，在医院里我花很多时间跟他说话。他的眼中顿时充盈着泪水，他给了我一个我所得到的最温暖的拥抱。他开始告诉我，他昏迷时，能听到我说的话，能感觉到我一直握着他的手。他觉得陪在他身边的人完全是一个天使，而非人类。吉莱斯皮先生坚信是我的声音和抚爱使他活了下来。
之后，他告诉我他身上发生的事，以及他昏迷的原因。我们都哭了，相互拥抱着说了再见，又踏上了各自的路。
虽然自此以后，我再没见过他，但他使我的心每天都充满快乐。我知道，在他徘徊在生死边缘时，我起了特殊的作用。更重要的是，他使我的生命有了巨大改变。我永远无法忘记他，以及他为我所做的事：他使我成了一个天使。
An+Angle+to+Mr.+Gillespie
Angela+Sturgill
When+I+was+in+seventh+grade,+I+was+a+candy+striper+at+a+local+hospital+in+my+town.+I+volunteered1+about+thirty+to+forty+hours+a+week+during+the+summer.+Most+of+the+time+I+spent+there+was+with+Mr.+Gillespie.+He+never+had+any+visitors,+and+nobody+seemed+to+care+about+his+condition.+I+spent+many+days+there+holding+his+hand+and+talking+to+him,+helping+with+anything+that+needed+to+be+done.+He+became+a+close+friend+of+mine,+even+though+he+responded+with+only+an+occasional+squeeze2+of+my+hand.+Mr.+Gillespie+was+in+a+coma3.
I+left+for+a+week+to+vacation+with+my+parents,+and+when+I+came+back,+Mr.+Gillespie+was+gone.+I+didn’t+have+the+nerve+to+ask+any+of+the+nurses+where+he+was,+for+fear+they+might+tell+me+he+had+died.+So+with+many+questions+unanswered,+I+continued+to+volunteer+there+through+my+eighthgrade+year.
Several+years+later,+When+I+was+a+junior+in+high+school,+I+was+at+the+gas+station+when+I+noticed+a+familiar+face.+When+I+realized+who+it+was,+my+eyes+filled+with+tears.+He+was+alive！+I+got+up+the+nerve+to+ask+him+if+his+name+was+Mr.+Gillespie,+and+if+he+had+been+in+a+coma+about+five+years+ago.+With+an+uncertain+look+on+his+face,+he+replied+yes.+I+explained+how+I+knew+him,+and+that+I+had+spent+many+hours+talking+with+him+in+the+hospital.+His+eyes+welled+up+with+tears,+and+he+gave+me+the+warmest+hug+I+had+ever+received.
He+began+to+tell+me+how,+as+he+lay+there+comatose4,+he+could+hear+me+talking+to+him+and+could+feel+me+holding+his+hand+the+whole+time.+He+thought+it+was+an+angel,+not+a+person,+who+was+there+with+him.+Mr.+Gillespie+firmly+believed+that+it+was+my+voice+and+touch+that+had+kept+him+alive.
Then+he+told+me+about+his+life+and+what+happened+to+him+to+put+him+in+the+coma.+We+both+cried+for+a+while+and+exchanged+a+hug,+said+our+goodbyes+and+went+our+separate+ways.
Although+I+haven’t+seen+him+since,+he+fills+my+heart+with+joy+every+day.+I+know+that+I+made+a+difference+between+his+life+and+his+death.+More+importantly,+he+has+made+a+tremendous5+difference+in+my+life.+I+will+never+forget+him+and+what+he+did+for+me:+he+made+me+an+angel.
难忘的恶作剧
佚名
一天，我们大学里一个年轻的学生和一位教授一起散步。这位仁慈的教授常称呼学生为朋友，他对那些急切希望得到指教的学生非常友善。
散步途中，他们看到一双旧鞋放在路边，便猜测鞋子可能是某个在附近田地里劳作的穷人的，他们想他一天的劳动也该结束了。
学生转过头对教授说：“我们捉弄他一下吧。先把他的鞋藏起来，然后躲到灌木丛后面，等着看他找不到鞋子时会是怎样困惑的表情。”
“年轻的朋友，”教授答道，“我们永远不该以损害穷人为代价，来换取自己的快乐。如果你富有，就应该去帮助穷人，那样会让你获得更大的快乐。我们在每只鞋里各放一枚硬币，然后躲起来看他对这一意外发现有何反应。”
学生按教授说的做了，然后他们躲到附近的灌木丛中。
很快，那个穷人劳动结束了，他从田地走出来，来到放外套和鞋子的小路上。他边穿外套，边把一只脚伸到鞋子里，感觉到鞋里有硬东西，他便弯下腰摸摸看是什么东西，结果他摸到了那枚硬币。
他吃惊地看着那枚硬币，翻转过去又看了看。然后，他扫视了一下周围，一个人影都看不到。他把这枚硬币装进口袋，又去穿另一只鞋。结果又发现了另一枚硬币，他更惊讶了。
他感动极了，双膝跪地，仰望上苍，大声地表达着自己的感激之情，正是陌生人的解囊相助使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。
那个学生被深深地感动了，他的眼里饱含着泪水。“喏，”教授说，“这难道不比搞恶作剧更令你快乐吗？”
年轻人答道：“您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。现在我终于明白了那句我一直都不理解的话：‘给予比接受更幸福。’”
A+Trick+
Anonymous
A+young+man,+a+student+in+one+of+our+universities,+was+one+day+taking+a+walk+with+a+professor,+who+was+commonly+called+the+students’+friend,+for+his+kindness+to+those+who+waited+on+his+instructions.
As+they+went+along,+they+saw+lying+in+the+path+a+pair+of+old+shoes,+which+they+supposed+to+belong+to+a+poor+man+who+was+employed+in+a+field+close+by,+and+who+had+nearly+finished+his+day’s+work.
The+student+turned+to+the+professor,+saying,+“Let+us+play+the+man+a+trick:+we+will+hide+his+shoes,+and+conceal+ourselves+behind+those+bushes,+and+wait+to+see+his+perplexity1+when+he+cannot+find+them.”
“My+young+friend,”+answered+the+professor,“we+should+never+amuse2+ourselves+at+the+expense+of+the+poor.+But+you+are+rich,+and+may+give+yourself+a+much+greater+pleasure+by+means+of+the+poor+man.+Put+a+coin+into+each+shoe,+and+then+we+will+hide+ourselves+and+watch+how+the+discovery+affects+him.”
The+student+did+so,+and+they+both+placed+themselves+behind+the+bushes+close+by.
The+poor+man+soon+finished+his+work,+and+came+across+the+field+to+the+path+where+he+had+left+his+coat+and+shoes.+While+putting+on+his+coat+he+slipped+his+foot+into+one+of+his+shoes+but+feeling+something+hard,+he+stooped+down3+to+feel+what+it+was,+and+found+the+coin.
Astonishment4+and+wonder+were+seen+upon+his+countenance.+He+gazed+upon5+the+coin,+turned+it+round,+and+looked+at+it+again+and+again.+He+then+looked+around+him+on+all+sides,+but+no+person+was+to+be+seen.+He+now+put+the+money+into+his+pocket,+and+proceeded+to+put+on+the+other+shoe+but+his+surprise+was+doubled+on+finding+the+other+coin.
His+feelings+overcame+him+he+fell+upon+his+knees,+looked+up+to+heaven+and+uttered+aloud+a+fervent6+thanksgiving,+in+which+he+spoke+of+his+wife,+sick+and+helpless,+and+his+children+without+bread,+whom+the+timely+bounty7,+from+some+unknown+hand,+would+save+from+perishing.
The+student+stood+there+deeply+affected,+and+his+eyes+filled+with+tears.+“Now,”+said+the+professor,+“are+you+not+much+better+pleased+than+if+you+had+played+your+intended+trick？”
The+youth+replied,+“You+have+taught+me+a+lesson+which+I+will+never+forget.+I+feel+now+the+truth+of+those+words,+which+I+never+understood+before:‘It+is+more+blessed8+to+give+than+to+receive.’”
梅罗普的奖励
佚名
梅罗普是七个漂亮的姐妹中最文静也最不引人注意的一个。她已习惯并心甘情愿做配角。“每个人都很关注她们，”她想，“所以她们要努力做得更完美。没有人关注我，我做得差不多就可以了。”
她的姐妹们总是受到各种各样年轻男子的青睐，他们迷恋、崇拜并追求她们。梅罗普只能静静地待在角落里看他们来来往往，并为姐妹们的幸福而高兴。闲着没事儿时，她就读书写字，并且写下了许多幻想中的生活：她想象着如果自己和姐妹们一样漂亮迷人、大方出众，她的生活会如何如何。
其他六个姐妹都对梅罗普深表同情，因为她们也都认为自己很漂亮，而在她们看来，梅罗普只是可爱。她们享受着生活的欢愉，而梅罗普那梦幻般的面容，却丝毫不能引起人们的兴趣。她似乎只沉湎于她的梦幻世界，而让人误以为她对现实生活极不满意。
年轻男子络绎不绝，姐妹们的心情也随之飘忽不定。只有一张男子的脸，是梅罗普能经常看到的，那人叫西绪福斯，是个泥瓦匠，他正在梅罗普家的房子周围砌石墙。她的姐妹们从不会正眼瞧他一下，因为他穿得很寒酸，且从不带礼物给她们，他总是从后门进入厨房，然后让梅罗普找她父亲，问石墙确切应该砌在什么位置。
梅罗普注意到，西绪福斯对她十分尊重，当问她怎么做的时候总是诚心诚意的。偶尔，他会带一小桶草莓或一袋苹果给她，这些都是他闲逛时采摘的。而梅罗普总会红着脸接受这些礼物。她的姐妹们便嘲笑她，对那些礼物不屑一顾，因为她们身边的那些年轻男子常给她们带些金银珠宝、玫瑰花、装饰带和皮具等贵重物品。
但是文静的梅罗普却为这些朴实的礼物而激动。“宝石谁都会买，”她对姐妹们说，“玫瑰花和皮具任何人也都可以买，但是在烈日下花整整一上午或一下午的时间，忍受蚊蝇叮咬去采摘果子，却不是人人都可以做得到的，更别提那些纨绔子弟了。”对于她的话，姐妹们只是一笑了之，笑声明显不像以往那么畅快。
一天下午，梅罗普的父亲和西绪福斯一起去了农田，想向他解释围墙应砌在什么位置。不一会儿，西绪福斯浑身湿漉漉的，把梅罗普的父亲背回了厨房。父亲浑身湿透，似乎失去了知觉。西绪福斯把他放在桌子上，大声叫梅罗普拿来干净的毛巾和白兰地酒。
父亲呷了几口烈酒，便气喘吁吁地讲了事情的经过。原来梅罗普的父亲手拿六分仪边测量边往后退，一不小心掉进了她家旁边那条水流湍急的深水河里，幸亏西绪福斯立即跳入河中，把他从冰冷的河水中救了上来。
父亲苏醒后，对西绪福斯感激不尽，并许诺:西绪福斯可以娶他的任何一个女儿为妻。他把女儿们都叫到书房，其中六个哭闹着不情愿，都认为西绪福斯配不上她们。梅罗普像往常一样站在角落里，微笑着，默不作声。
父亲很生气，责备女儿们没有良心，西绪福斯救了他的命，理所应当得到她们的爱。听了父亲的斥责，她们不再哭闹，只是抽泣着，板着脸，红肿着眼睛，一声不吭地呆立在那儿。
西绪福斯微笑着，谨慎地做着自己的选择，他的目光落在梅罗普身上，说道：“先生，我想选择梅罗普，娶她为妻。”姐妹们猛地抬起头，刚才的恐惧感顿时被欣喜或者说是失望所取代。
“你宁可选择梅罗普也不选择我们？”大姐简直不敢相信自己的耳朵，“你难道瞎了眼吗？”
父亲又严厉地呵斥了她们，除了梅罗普，其余的姐妹都离开了书房。“西绪福斯，我很高兴把梅罗普嫁给你，但是，你必须告诉我，为什么选她而不选我其他的女儿呢？”
“先生,”泥瓦匠解释说，“你的每个女儿都美貌出众，这是毫无疑问的。但是如果没有人追求她们，她们的美丽就会褪色，她们的光彩也会渐渐消退且不堪一击。然而梅罗普的美丽源于善良的心灵，聪明的头脑，这种美是永远不会褪色的。我认为她是我的最佳选择，先生！”
西绪福斯和梅罗普结婚了，随着时间的流逝，他的预言真的得到了证实，梅罗普的姐妹们都失去了往日的美丽容颜，不再是男人们追求的对象，她们越来越感到了苦闷，终日不出家门，也不再有男人登门拜访,与她们共度美好时光。
在西绪福斯的爱情滋润下，梅罗普变得越来越光彩迷人，她写的幻想故事给两个人的生活平添了许多乐趣——他们一人写作，一人欣赏——幸福快乐地白头偕老。
Merope’s+Reward
Anonymous
Of+the+seven+beautiful+ones,+Merope+was+the+quietest+and+the+easiest+to+overlook.+She+herself++became+accustomed+to+blending+into+the+background,+and+found+a+way+to+content+herself+with+that.+“Everyone+is+always+watching+them,”+she+thought,+“so+they+have+to+be+perfect.+No+one+watches+me,+I+can+settle+for+being+good.”
Her+sisters+went+through+the+world+being+cherished+and+adored+and+sought+after+by+all+manner+of+young+men.+Merope+watched+the+parade+pass+by+her+quiet+corner,+pleased+that+it+made+her+sisters+happy.+To+amuse+herself,+she+learned+to+read+and+write+and+began+writing+down+her+fantasies+of+what+her+life+would+be+like+if+she+were+as+beautiful+and+brilliant+as+her+siblings1.
The+other+six+pitied+Merope,+for+while+they+thought+themselves+beautiful；+to+them+she+was+only+pretty.+Where+they+were+vibrant+with+the+joy+of+life,+Merope+wore+a+dreamy+countenance+that+many+found+uninviting.+She+seemed+so+taken+with+the+world+of+her+dreams+that+they+assumed+she+was+unhappy+with+her+lot.
The+young+men+continued+to+come+and+go,+changing+as+frequently+as+her+sisters’+whims.+The+only+male+face+Merope+saw+with+any+regularity+was+Sisyphus,+the+mason+who+was+building+a+stone+wall+around+their+property.+Her+sisters+paid+him+no+heed,+for+he+didn’t+wear+fine+clothes+and+didn’t+bring+them+gifts.+He+would+come+into+the+kitchen+through+the+back+door+and+would+ask+Merope+to+find+her+father+for+him+to+answer+some+question+or+other+about+the+et+placement+of+the+wall.
Merope+noticed+that+Sisyphus+treated+her+with+complete+respect,+and+seemed+to+genuinely+care+when+he+asked+how+she+was.+On+occasion,+he+would+bring+her+a+bucket+of+berries+or+a+bag+of+apples+he’d+found+in+his+wanderings,+and+Merope+would+blush+as+she+accepted+these+gifts.+Her+sisters+laughed+at+her,+and+the+gifts+from+Sisyphus,+for+the+flocks+of+young+men+who+swarmed2+about+her+sisters+offered+them+jewels+and+roses,+lace+and+furs.
But+the+quiet+Merope+was+inwardly+thrilled+by+these+homely+tributes3.+“Anyone+can+buy+a+ruby,”+she+told+them,+“anyone+can+buy+a+rose+or+a+fur.+But+not+one+of+those+dandies+would+spend+a+morning+or+an+afternoon+collecting+fruit+in+the+broiling+sun,+being+tortured+by+buzzing,+biting+flies+for+one+of+you.“+Her+sisters+laughed+at+that,+but+a+little+less+brilliantly+than+they+had+before.
One+afternoon,+Merope’s+father+went+out+into+the+fields+with+Sisyphus,+to+explain+to+him+where+he+wanted+the+fence+placed.+A+short+time+later,+a+soaked+Sisyphus+carried+the+unconscious,+equally+drenched+man+into+the+kitchen+and+laid+him+on+the+table.+He+barked+orders+to+Merope,+telling+her+to+find+clean+towels+and+fetch+some+brandy.
The+story+was+told+in+gasps,+between+sips+of+the+strong+liquor.+Her+father+had+been+backing+up,+holding+a+sextant4+to+his+eye,+and+had+fallen+into+the+deep,+swift+river+that+ran+along+the+edge+of+their+property.+Sisyphus+had+immediately+plunged+in+after+him,+and+had+pulled+him+from+the+cold+water.
After+he+recovered,+the+grateful+man+offered+Sisyphus+any+one+of+his+daughters+for+his+wife.+The+daughters+were+summoned+to+his+study,+six+of+them+crying+and+protesting+that+Sisyphus+was+unworthy.+Merope+took+her+customary+place+in+the+corner,+smiling+serenely+5and+saying+nothing.
Their+father+became+angry+and+told+the+girls+sharply+that+they+were+being+ungrateful+and+that+Sisyphus+had+proven+himself+worthy+without+a+doubt+by+saving+his+life.+At+his+admonition,+their+cries+became+sniffles6,+and+they+sat+quietly,+swolleneyed+and+sullen.
Sisyphus+surveyed+his+choices+and+smiled+when+his+eyes+landed+upon+Merope.+“I+would+have+Merope,+sir.+Merope+will+be+my+wife.”+Her+sisters’+heads+snapped+up,+and+where+there+had+been+dread+a+moment+before,+there+was+now+jubilation7+and+chagrin+in+quick+succession.
“You+would+prefer+Merope+over+us？”+the+eldest+asked+incredulously.+“Have+you+no+eyes+to+see？”
Their+father+spoke+harshly+again,+and+all+the+sisters+but+Merope+left+the+room.+“Sisyphus,+I+am+happy+to+give+you+Merope’s+hand+in+marriage,+but+I+must+know+why+you+chose+her+but+not+one+of+my+other+daughters.”
“Sir,”+the+mason+explained,+“your+daughters+are+brilliant+beauties,+that+no+one+can+deny.+But+their+beauty+will+fade+and+their+brilliance+will+become+brittle+and+bitter+when+they+realize+they+are+no+longer+desirable.+But+Merope’s+beauty+is+of+the+spirit,+and+that+will+not+fade.+Her+brilliance+is+of+the+mind,+and+that+will+not+fade.+I+think+I+made+the+wisest+choice+from+among+all+of+your+daughters,+sir.”
So+Merope+and+Sisyphus+were+married,+and+over+time,+his+prophecy+came+to+pass.+Merope’s+sisters+lost+their+beauty+and+ceased+to+be+the+quarry+of+young+men’s+quest+for+love.+They+became+bitter+and+morose,+locked+in+their+father’s+house+with+no+more+gentleman+callers+to+pass+the+hours+with+them.
Merope+glowed+in+the+light+of+Sisyphus’s+love+for+her,+and+her+brilliant+stories+entertained+them+both—her+with+the+writing+of+them+and+him+with+the+reading+of+them—as+they+grew+old+together. 无尽的昏迷过后，时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容，请下载星星阅读app，无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容，已经星星阅读小说APP更新最新章节内容。
他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气，胸口一颤一颤。
迷茫、不解，各种情绪涌上心头。
这是哪？
随后，时宇下意识观察四周，然后更茫然了。
一个单人宿舍？
就算他成功得到救援，现在也应该在病房才对。
还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。
带着疑惑，时宇的视线快速从房间扫过，最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。
镜子照出他现在的模样，大约十七八岁的年龄，外貌很帅。
可问题是，这不是他！下载星星阅读app，阅读最新章节内容无广告免费
之前的自己，是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年，工作有段时间了。
而现在，这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……
这个变化，让时宇发愣很久。
千万别告诉他，手术很成功……
身体、面貌都变了，这根本不是手术不手术的问题了，而是仙术。
他竟完全变成了另外一个人！
难道……是自己穿越了？
除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子，时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。
时宇拿起一看，书名瞬间让他沉默。
《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》
《宠兽产后的护理》
《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》
时宇：？？？
前两本书的名字还算正常，最后一本你是怎么回事？
“咳。”
时宇目光一肃，伸出手来，不过很快手臂一僵。
就在他想翻开第三本书，看看这究竟是个什么东西时，他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛，大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。
冰原市。
宠兽饲养基地。
实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭，下载星星阅读app为您提供大神方雪梅的美丽英文
御兽师？
章节错误,点此报送(免注册),
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